Seal-lock.



J. F. THOMAS.

SEAL LOCK.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 25, 1915.

Patented Mar. 21, 1916.

2 SHEET-SHEET 1.

J. F. THOMAS.

SEAL LOCK.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 25, 1915.

1,176,620. Patented Mar. 21,1916.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2- AMIIIMMW cfji'ma maog THE COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH u, WASHINGTON, D. M

JOSEPH FRANK THOMAS, OF SLIDELL, LOUISIANA.

SEAL-LOCK.

Application filed March 25, 1915.

Z '0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOSEPH FRANK THOMAS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Slidell, in the parish of St. Tammany and State of Louisiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Seal-Locks; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates broadly to improve ments in looks and latches and more particularly to a combined guard and indicator for the former, such device to be used for the purpose of ascertaining whether or not a lock has been tampered with after it had once been locked.

The object of the invention is to provide a seal lock of this class in a very desirable form, and to so construct the same as to allow it to be easily and cheaply manufactured and marketed.

With this end in view, the invention resides in certain novel features of construction and combination, hereinafter described and claimed.

In describing the invention, I shall refer to the accompanying drawings wherein;

Figure 1 is a side view of a portion of a door showing the application of the invention over the key hole thereof; Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. l with the lid of the device in open position; Fig. 3 is a view similar to Figs. 1 and 2 showing not only the lid but a pivoted cutter plate swung outwardly; Fig. 4 is a central vertical transverse section as seen along the plane indicated by the line 44 of Fig. 1; Fig. 5 is a similar view as seen along the plane indicated by the line 55 of Fig. l with all parts in closed position; Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 5 with the lid and parts movable therewith swung to open position; Fig. 7 is a detail vertical longitudinal section as seen along the plane indicated by the line 7-7 of Fig. 5; and Fig. 8 is a horizontal lon gitudinal section taken on the line 88 of Fig. 5.

In these drawings constituting a part of the application, D designates a portion of a door having any preferred type of lock, provided with the usual key hole H which it is the object of the present invention to Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 21, 1916. Serial No. 16,910.

guard against the insertion of keys and the like by unauthorized persons. However, should the guard be opened for the purpose of inserting a key or tampering with the lock in any manner, a card or the like carr ed within the guard will be mutilated, thus giving warning to the legitimate operator of the look upon his return.

In the present embodiment of the invention, 1 designates a rectangular casing or card box having a flat upright rear wall 2 secured by screws 3 to the door, over the key hole H therein, said attaching plate 2 hav' ing itself a key hole 1-. The upright end edges and the lower edge of the attaching plate 2 are provided respectively with upright end flanges 5 and with a horizontal bottom flange 6, these flanges constituting the end and bottom Walls of the box. As shown in several of the figures of the drawings, the upper ends of the flanges 5 are provided with ears 6 through which a horizontal pintle or hinge rod 7 passes, this rod being passed through a tubular hinge knuckle 8 which is formed on the rear edge of the upper side 9 of a rectangular frame 10 which, when considered in connection with a transporting panel 11 with which it is provided, constitutes a lid for the card box 1.

Disposed Within the box 1, and located one on each side of the key hole 4 therein, is a pair of upright cutting blades 12 which are spaced in advance of the attaching late 2 and held in this position by rearwardly extending feet 13 which are secured in any appropriate manner to said plate. These blades 12 are normally received by vertical slots 1 1 which are formed in a movable cutter plate 15, the latter being hingedly supported by a pintle 16 which passes through a knuckle 17 formed on its upper edge. WVith the parts in this position, sufiicient space is left between the inner cutting edges of the blades 12 and the front face of the cutter plate 15, to allow the insertion of a strip of paper or a card 18, this card then forming a seal which must be broken before access may be had to the lock. Since connections, to be described, are provided between the plate 15 and the cover or lid, it follows that the lock cannot be opened without moving the former forwardly, thus cutting the card or strip of paper 18, upon which the legitimate operator of the lock has previously inscribed his signature.

For the purpose of establishing a connection between the plate 15 and the cover, a leaf spring 19 is secured at its ends to the inner side of the lower side of the frame 10, the center of the spring being spaced inwardly a considerable distance from said side and being secured to a locking plate 20 whose ends are provided with a pair of beveled noses 21 which are so disposed as to cause them to strike a flange 22 which projects forwardly from the lower edge of the locking plate 15. At the points struck by the noses 21, the flange 22 is provided with a pair of openings 23, whereby when the plate 15 is closed over the key hole, and the card or strip of paper 18 is inserted beneath the cutting blades 12, the lid or cover may be closed, whereupon the noses 21 will spring into the openings 23, thus establishing a releasable connection between the plate 15 and the lid. If now this lid be opened, it will be evident that the locking plate 15 will be pulled forwardly therewith, thus forcing the card or strip of paper 18 outwardly against the blades 12 and cutting the same. This mutilated card then gives warning to the authorized operator of the look, upon his return.

Although any preferred means may well be provided for retaining the lid or cover in closed position, a pair of friction shoes 24 are preferably provided on the inner sides of the ends of the frame 10, these shoes being forced into binding frictional contact with the flanges 5, when the lid is closed as clearly shown in Fig. 8.

It is to be observed that the pivot rod or pintle 16 is spaced below the pintle 7, thus causing the cover proper to swing upwardly to a position above the plate 15. This is essential, since the varied amount of movement of these two parts retracts the noses 21 from the openings 23, thus allowing the plate 15 to be properly positioned for the insertion of a new card, before closing the lid.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, it will be seen that although a very simple device has been provided, it will be very eflicient in operation and will possess a number of advantageous features.

In the drawings, I have shown certain specific details for accomplishing the best results, and in the specification have described the same, but it will be evident that I need not be limited thereto otherwise than as specified in the appended claims.

I claim 1. A device of the class described comprising a card box having an outwardly movable lid, a card cutter within the box and comprising a fixed section secured to the box, an outwardly movable section pivoted in a plane below the plane of the pivots of the movable section, and a separable connection between the lid and the movable section.

A device of the class described comprising a card box, a fixed cutter member therein, beneath which a card passes, an outwardly movable lid for the box, an additional and movable cutter member normally disposed beneath the card, and a separable connection between the lid and said additional cutter member, whereby to move the latter outwardly as the former is so moved.

3. A device of the class described comprising a card box having an outwardly movable front, a fixed cutting blade disposed Within the box and spaced forwardly from the rear side thereof, an outwardly movable cutter member likewise disposed in the box and spaced rearwardly from the aforesaid cutting blade, and a separable connection between the outwardly movable front and the outwardly movable cutter member.

4. A device of the class described comprising a card box and a hinged forwardly swinging front therefor, a cutting blade disposed within the box and spaced forwardly from the rear side thereof, and a hinged cutter plate likewise disposed within the box and having a slot receiving the cutting blade, the plate being normally spaced from said blade.

5. A device of the class described comprising a card box and a hinged forwardly swinging front therefor, a fixed cutting blade in the box and spaced in advance of the rear wall thereof, a hinged cutting plate likewise disposed in the box and having a slot receiving the aforesaid cutting blade, the plate being normally spaced rearward from the latter, and a separable connection between the front of the box and the cutter plate.

6. A device of the class described comprising a card box having an outwardly movable lid, a card cutter within the box and comprising a fixed section secured to the box, an outwardly movable section pivoted in a plane below the plane of the pivots of the movable section, a separable connection between the lid and the movable section, and a pair of friction shoes for retaining the lid in closed position.

7. A device of the class described comprising a card box and a forwardly swing-- ing front therefor, a cutting blade disposed within the box and spaced forwardly from the rear wall thereof, and a hinged cutter plate likewise disposed within the box and having a slot receiving the cutting blade, said cutter plate being hinged below the hinge of the box front, a flange having a slot formed therein secured to the lower end of said cutter plate, a leaf spring secured at its opposite ends to the box lid and my hand in presence of two subscribing Witcarrying on its upper side a beveled nose for nesses. coaction With said slot to provide a releasable connection between the lid and the JOSEPH FRANK THOMAS' cutter plate, which will separate when the Witnesses: lid is raised a sufiicient extent. B. MCGINTY,

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set C. A. EVERETT.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington. D. 0. 

